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Ricca (Aunt Hattie) Hughes
Born:  November 6, 1893
Died:  October 18, 1977
Renfro Valley Barn Dance
WSB Barn Dance


About The Artist

In Progress...

Ricca Hughes Curtis could better be described as a comedian or person who played comedic character roles. Her career included a long stint in vaudeville with husband Roy Hughes. They were often termed as "The Young Old Couple" or "Humps and Bumps" or "The Laugh Producers."

Roy died in 1939. This would be about the same time she signed on with WSB in Atlanta, GA to play the role of "Aunt Hattie" with the Amburgey Sisters group. She later became the replacement on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance using the same character name and became very popular with that show.

She perhaps had a salary dispute with John Lair and left the show.

1920's

Promo Ad - Tootle Theatre - St. Joseph, MO - May 15, 1920 - Roy and Ricca Hughes
Promo Ad - Jefferson Theatre - Jefferson City, MO - April 13, 1923 - Ricca Hughes

Promo Ad - Bleich - Owensboro, KY - April 26, 1923 - Roy and Ricca Hughes
Promo Ad - Star Theater - Muncie, IN - May 17, 1923 - Ricca Hughes

Promo Ad - Strand Theater - Salina, KS - March 7, 1923 - Ricca Hughes
Promo Ad - Grand Theater - Raleigh, NC - January 7, 1926 - Roy and Ricca Hughes
Promo Ad - Best Theater - Parsons, KS - February 26, 1924 - Roy and Ricca Hughes - Mason Sisters - Monte Carlo Trio

Promo Ad - Cameo Theatre - Bristol, TN - April 22, 1925 - Billy Wehle - Roy and Ricca Hughes, The Young Old Couple
Promo Ad - Washington Theatre - Belleville, IL - May 14, 1924 - Billy Wehle - Roy and Ricca Hughes

Promo Ad - Albany, AL - June 16, 1924 - Roy and Ricca Hughes - Walter Deering - Pansy Williams
Promo Ad - rincess Theatre - Albany, AL - June 21, 1924 - Billy Wehle - Roy and Ricca Hughes - Minnie Burke - Walter Deering - Sunkist Chorus

Promo Ad - Princess Theatre - Albany, AL - May 24, 1924 - Billy Wehle - Roy and Ricca Hughes, Humps and Bumps

Promo Ad - Hotel Owensboro - The Lanter Hotel - Owensboro, KY - June 10, 1928 - Roy and Ricca Hughes

Promo Ad - Broadway Theatre - Richmond, VA - January 11, 1925 - Roy and Ricca Hughes, The Young Old Couple
Promo Ad - Big Tent Theater - Winchester, KY - July 28, 1927 - Billroy's Comedians - Roy and Ricca Hughes, The Young Old Couple

Promo Ad - Tent Theatre - Lykins Lot - North Main Street - Winchester, KY - May 13, 1929 - Roy and Ricca Hughes, That Young Old Couple
Promo Ad - Hungtington Theatre - Huntington, IN - October 13, 1928 - Roy and Ricca Hughes Players

Promo Ad - Princess Theatre - Greeneville, TN - November 13, 1926 - Roy and Ricca Hughes
Promo Ad - Majestic Theatre - Asheville, NC - January 26, 1928 - Roy and Ricca Hughes, The Young Old Couple

1930's

Promo Ad - American Theater - Chattanooga, TN - January 19, 1930 - ROy and Ricca Hughes
Promo Ad - Sugg Theatre - Chickasha, OK - Aogust 3, 1932 - Roy and Ricca Hughes

Promo Ad - Bison Theatre - Shawnee, OK - September 11, 1932 - Roy and Ricca Hughes Musical Revue
Promo Ad - Criterion Theatre - Shawnee, OK - August 30, 1932 - Roy and Ricca Hughes, Musical Comedy Players

Promo Ad - Ritz Theatre - Lawton, OK - November 14, 1934 - Roy and Ricca Hughes
Promo Ad - Rex Theatre - Fresno, CA - April 8, 1936 - Roy and Ricca Hughes, Famous Comedy Team and 12 Burley Cuties

Obituary - Roy L. Hughes - Enid, OK - May 6, 1939
Obituary - Roy L. Hughes - Houston, TX - May 6, 1939

Ricca's husband Roy died on May 4, 1939 in Houston, TX. The death certificate seems to imply that the couple had lived in Houston the previous seven months.

1940's

A list of marriage licenses from the Lexington Herald newspaper on July 9, 1942 showed that Harry McClellan Curtis, Springfield, Ohio, restaurant owner and Ricca Hughes of Mt. Vernon, KY took out a license to wed. She married Harry Curtis in 1942. They operated a couple of restaurants.

Promo Ad - Diamond Grill - Greenfield, OH - Harry and Ricca Curtis - July 1, 1952
Obituary - Harry Curtis - Greenfield, OH - January 25, 1954
Promo Ad - The White House - Greenfield, OH - February 17, 1956 - Ricca Curtis
Promo Ad - Toddler's Motel - Greenfield, OH - December 2, 1959 - Ricca Curtis, assisted by Mrs. Barbara Davis
Promo Ad - Toddler's Motel - Greenfield, OH - December 4, 1959 - Ricca Curtis - Mrs. Ralph Purtell - Mrs. Barbara Davis

Harry Curtis passed away after a two week hospital stay on January 25, 1954 in Greenfield, OH. He was born on June 11, 1891 in Springfield, OH. In addition to his widow, Ricca Hughes Curtis, he was survived by his son Harry Curtis, Jr.

Credits & Sources

  • Marriage Licenses; July 9, 1942; The Lexington Herald; Lexington, KY
  • Obituary: Harry Curtis; January 15, 1954; Greenfield Daily Times; Greenfield, OH
  • Obituary: Harry Curtis; January 15, 1954; Greenfield Daily Times; Greenfield, OH
  • Obituary: Roy Hughes; May 6, 1939; The Enid Daily Eagle; Enid, OK
  • Obituary; Roy Hughes; May 6, 1939; Houston Post; Houston, TX

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